New Jersey Poetry Out Loud is a project of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, in collaboration with Count Basie Center for the Arts. Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program, led by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, in partnership with the state and jurisdictional arts agencies of the United States. In New Jersey, the State Arts Council and the Basie work with a growing network of regional partners to implement the program statewide.
Poetry Out Loud encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. Not only do participants share their interpretation and delivery of poetry, but they also vie for awards and scholarships totaling $50,000.
Since 2005, Poetry Out Loud has grown to reach more than 3 million students and 50,000 teachers from 10,000 schools in every state, Washington, DC, the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
In collaboration with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the Count Basie Center for the Arts, the Grunin Center is the proud partner for Region 3 of the New Jersey Poetry Out Loud competition, which will be held on February 12, 2025.
You can watch the New Jersey Regional Competitions and State Finals at either NJPOL homepage or YouTube channel.
Click here to register your school or community organization today for New Jersey Poetry Out Loud!
For more information or help with implementing the program in your community, contact Erik Stratton, Education & Community Engagement Coordinator: 732-255-0400 x2386 or estratton@ocean.edu